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Henry honored with Classified Staff Award for Excellence

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Mary Ann Henry capped her 13-and-a-half-year career at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville by earning the Classified Staff Award for Excellence. Henry retired earlier this year after working since 2000 as a campus custodian. Her primary assignment during that time was Hugunin Hall. She spent one year working in Boebel Hall before returning to Hugunin Hall.

The award caught Henry off guard. “I was kind of surprised,” she said. “Usually custodial staff doesn’t get recognized too much because we aren’t involved with what is going on.”

The highlights of the job over the years for Henry were the interactions with the students. “I enjoyed the students,” she said. “It was enlightening to see what some of them went through to get where they are. Some of them had different goals and it would be interesting to see what they are doing now compared to what they wanted to do.”

Henry was the lone custodian in Hugunin Hall, something she described as physically challenging. The building includes nine bathrooms and no elevator. “You only have 20 minutes in a wing, so you’re flying,” she said.

In order for the operation to run smoothly, communication had to be a top priority, according to Henry. “It’s teamwork,” she said. “If everyone works together it works, especially with discipline or what you expect. Communication is really necessary, not only to keep the building clean but to know what’s coming up.”

Prior to working at UW-Platteville, Henry provided private care to elderly patients, special needs adults and children, as well as foster children.

Henry will be recognized during the faculty and staff convocation on Aug. 28.